Assessment of nutritional knowledge and dietary pattern of students of federal university of petroleum resources, delta state
1
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2169
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Good nutritional knowledge and a healthy dietary pattern are important for maintaining good health and preventing diseases among students. This study aims to assess the nutritional knowledge and dietary-pattern of students at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Delta State, Nigeria.
METHODS:
A multistage sampling technique was used to select 321 students from the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Delta State. A validated interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire was used to assess respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, nutritional-knowledge, and dietary-pattern. Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test were used to analyse data at a p<0.05 significance level.
RESULTS:
Mean age of respondents was 23±3.44 years. Students’ academic levels: 10(20.2%), 200 (25.5%), 300(21.5%), 400(29.3%) and 500(3.4%). All the students knew what an adequate diet is, but the majority didn’t know the daily calorie-requirements for females (72.0%) and males (69.5%). Three-quarters knew the classes of nutrients for energy (74.5%), growth (77.9%), and excellent food sources of carbohydrates (81.6%) and proteins (96.3%). Students’ nutritional knowledge was excellent (10.6%), good (81.0%), and poor (8.4%). Dietary-pattern: three meals/day: none(22.1%), daily(5.6%), once/week(10.3%), 2times/week(30.8%) and 3times/week(31.2%), skipped breakfast(40.8%), fruits & vegetables: none(16.8%), daily(5.3%), once/week(38.6%), 2times/week(25.9%) and 3times/week(13.4%); snacking: none(21.5%), daily(21.8%), once/week(22.7%), 2times/week(12.8%) and 3times/week(21.8%); Soft drinks: none(7.2%), daily(24.9%), once/week(30.5%), 2times/week(21.5%) and 3times/week(15.9%); indomie + fried eggs: none(17.1%), daily(7.8%), once/week(43.9%), 2times/week(19.0%) and 3times/week(12.1%); drinking garri: none(22.7%), daily(4.4%), once/week(43.6%), 2times/week(22.4%) and 3times/week(6.9%). No statistically significant association existed between nutritional knowledge and dietary-pattern (p>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Students' nutritional knowledge was good, but a very low percentage ate food daily, with the majority skipping food and snacking. Targeted interventions to promote a healthy eating lifestyle are recommended.
Good nutritional knowledge and a healthy dietary pattern are important for maintaining good health and preventing diseases among students. This study aims to assess the nutritional knowledge and dietary-pattern of students at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Delta State, Nigeria.
METHODS:
A multistage sampling technique was used to select 321 students from the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Delta State. A validated interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire was used to assess respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, nutritional-knowledge, and dietary-pattern. Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test were used to analyse data at a p<0.05 significance level.
RESULTS:
Mean age of respondents was 23±3.44 years. Students’ academic levels: 10(20.2%), 200 (25.5%), 300(21.5%), 400(29.3%) and 500(3.4%). All the students knew what an adequate diet is, but the majority didn’t know the daily calorie-requirements for females (72.0%) and males (69.5%). Three-quarters knew the classes of nutrients for energy (74.5%), growth (77.9%), and excellent food sources of carbohydrates (81.6%) and proteins (96.3%). Students’ nutritional knowledge was excellent (10.6%), good (81.0%), and poor (8.4%). Dietary-pattern: three meals/day: none(22.1%), daily(5.6%), once/week(10.3%), 2times/week(30.8%) and 3times/week(31.2%), skipped breakfast(40.8%), fruits & vegetables: none(16.8%), daily(5.3%), once/week(38.6%), 2times/week(25.9%) and 3times/week(13.4%); snacking: none(21.5%), daily(21.8%), once/week(22.7%), 2times/week(12.8%) and 3times/week(21.8%); Soft drinks: none(7.2%), daily(24.9%), once/week(30.5%), 2times/week(21.5%) and 3times/week(15.9%); indomie + fried eggs: none(17.1%), daily(7.8%), once/week(43.9%), 2times/week(19.0%) and 3times/week(12.1%); drinking garri: none(22.7%), daily(4.4%), once/week(43.6%), 2times/week(22.4%) and 3times/week(6.9%). No statistically significant association existed between nutritional knowledge and dietary-pattern (p>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Students' nutritional knowledge was good, but a very low percentage ate food daily, with the majority skipping food and snacking. Targeted interventions to promote a healthy eating lifestyle are recommended.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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